Six Blockchain application verticals, opportunities for your next project
We see six key verticals where blockchains are being applied. Each of these has many business opportunities. We’re still in the early days of blockchain and the broader decentralization movement, which means there is still plenty of opportunity in each vertical.
Big numbers don’t mean big money
Last week we discussed [problems with using really big numbers in cryptocurrencies](news/problems-with-big-numbers-in-crypto-how-bitcoin-dodged-a-bullet/). This week I'd like to talk about misconceptions surrounding cryptocurrencies with big coin supplies, as well as the wider topic of inflation. Both this and the previous article were inspired by the [OneLife Mastermind event](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI6l4N4MQaE), during which the people on stage were gushing about [how many coins their system will have and can mine, ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI6l4N4MQaE&t=11089)"The new blockchain will mine 50'000 coins per minute. [...] I think we are mining about 2'000'000'000 coins now."
Three blockchain benefits, above and beyond traditional databases
If you’re thinking about business opportunities for blockchain technology, it’s useful to avoid getting over-excited about an idea that a traditional centralized database could do just as well. How do you parse which is which?
Core bank systems should have built-in obsolescence
From controlled to marketplace and from internal to external focus, another key change is the very nature of technology itself. It’s quite clear that a start-up today could launch with just a few thousand dollars, Amazon Web Services and a bright idea. There is no need to build complex infrastructure and spend months with hundreds of coders creating something.
Problems with big numbers in crypto – how Bitcoin dodged a bullet
Recently, the infamous OneCoin made news once more in the Bitcoin circles after their OneLife mastermind stream. One of the more interesting things mentioned was the previously announced blockchain reset, coin doubling and increase in coin generation speed.
Does digital identity need blockchain technology?
GOV.UK Verify's technical architect Adam Cooper shares his thoughts on whether services like GOV.UK Verify should be making use of blockchain technology.
Building the trust engine
Building the trust engine, a UBS Group Technology white paper on the blockchain technology and how it can transform the industry (and the world). While there has been no shortage of blockchain white papers recently, most focus on the technology and are written for an industry audience â those likely to use blockchain to retool the financial system. Here instead, UBS Group try to paint a picture of what blockchain can do in a way that is, hopefully, clear and accessible for the average user of that system. To their knowledge, this is the first attempt by a major bank to do so.
The challenges of mobile financial inclusion
One of the gating factors to financial inclusion is the mobile network itself. It sounds simple to say that all of Africa can have access to mobile money, and they can, but if each telco has different wallet structures, charges and fees, then the ease of usage falls sharply. This is why interoperability is a key factor and Tanzania leads the way in this regard.
Blockchain voting systems offer transparency and security
The paper balloting system has been around for generations. However, countries around the world have been trying to replace the dated process with electronic voting, which is commonly referred to as e-voting.
British Prime Minister and Cabinet advised to start using distributed ledger technology
An [88-page report](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/distributed-ledger-technology-blackett-review) was released by the UK Government's Science Office on Tuesday, setting out the findings of a review exploring distributed ledger technology .
Gem CEO explains ‘The Why of Bitcoin,’ and starts 2016 with US$7.1M in funding
Micah Winkelspecht is founder and CEO of Gem, a secure and simple platform for Bitcoin developers. As development in the Bitcoin universe is exploding, it’s critical to understand why the underlying principles of money are important.
Positive and negative proofs in blockchain audits
As the old logical fallacy goes -[ you can't prove a negative](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Negative_proof), and[ absence of evidence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_from_ignorance#Absence_of_evidence) is not[ evidence of absence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence_of_absence). While for a long time this might've been true in various financial audits - you could only prove that some invoice existed, not that there were no invoices you missed.
Governments cannot protect personal records, can the blockchain?
Time and time again centralized government databases holding our most private and important identity information have been compromised, leading many to believe these records shouldn't be in the hands of governments in the first place.
Regulation is propagating financial exclusion, and blockchain technology is a key solution
According to a recent [report](http://www.cgdev.org/sites/default/files/CGD-WG-Report-Unintended-Consequences-AML-Policies-2015.pdf) by the Center for Global Development, extreme regulatory and cost pressures caused by regulation has caused financial institutions to stop servicing areas which are deemed extremely high risk.
Bitnation starts offering blockchain public notary service to Estonian e-Residents
Bitnation partners with Estonia to offer e-Residents a public blockchain notary service, starting today. To kick off the partnership between the two, events will be held online that includes a blockchain wedding you can attend during a google hangout.
Align Commerce could modernize the B2B payments industry with bitcoins blockchain
While payments technologies have advanced, and customers are used to making electronic payments, the business to business (B2B) payment landscape has yet to reflect 21st century banking according to a recent report.
